From Flare to Power: Flare Gas Recovery in a Central Iraqi Oilfield (Case Study)

Hasan Hayder; Peng Shi; Mohammed J. Kadem; Ali N. Shyaa

doi:10.52716/jprs.v16i2.1193

Authors

Hasan Hayder Midland Oil Company, Ministry of Oil, Baghdad, Iraq.
Peng Shi School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China.
Mohammed J. Kadem Midland Oil Company, Ministry of Oil, Baghdad, Iraq.
Ali N. Shyaa Midland Oil Company, Ministry of Oil, Baghdad, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52716/jprs.v16i2.1193

Keywords:

A central Iraqi oilfield, Flare gas recovery, Emission reduction, Economic valuation, Energy security.

Abstract

A central Iraqi oilfield, a significant hydrocarbon resource in Iraq, produces approximately 15 MMSCFD of associated gas from its designated production area, which has been historically flared, contributing to Iraq’s position as the third-largest gas-flaring nation globally. This study investigates the flare gas recovery project at the field’s designated production area, initiated in 2024, to rehabilitate compression and processing units for supplying dry gas to a nearby gas-turbine power station. Gas composition analysis, conducted via gas chromatography in 2018 and 2022, reveals a high methane content of 80.88 mol% and 77.71 mol%, respectively, with low concentrations of CO₂ and H₂S. Following processing through sweetening and dehydration units, the treated export gas achieves a methane content of 80.495 mol% with an HHV of 1276 BTU/SCF and total sulfur below 0.880 ppm, meeting Iraqi marketing specifications for dry gas. The project abates approximately 370,000 tons of CO₂e annually, aligning with Iraq’s Paris Agreement commitments and the World Bank’s Zero Flaring by 2030 initiative. Utilizing the recovered gas in a gas turbine with an efficiency of 35% yields approximately 82 MW of electrical power, thereby enhancing grid resilience. Economic analysis, based on a gas pricing model linked to Brent crude oil at 60 USD/bbl, estimates an annual gross revenue of 46.16 million USD, with net revenues of 29.74 million USD (excluding carbon credits) and 48.24 million USD (including carbon credits at 50 USD/tCO₂e). Carbon credit sensitivity analysis across price scenarios from 10 to 100 USD/tCO2e showed the project is viable on gas revenue alone, with carbon credits providing supplementary income of 3.70 to 37.00 million USD/year depending on market conditions. This initiative reduces emissions, bolsters energy security by offsetting gas imports, and generates significant economic benefits, demonstrating a sustainable model for flare gas utilization in Iraq’s energy sector.

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